With default settings, Windows 11 displays a search icon on the taskbar so that users can click on it to open the search. However, as you might have noticed, unlike in Windows 10, the taskbar no longer displays a search bar, and there is no option to get the same.
The search icon on the taskbar is one of the ways to access the search in Windows 11. Now that Microsoft has moved the search bar from the taskbar to the Start menu, many users will use the Start menu search bar to search for files and apps.
So, it’s possible to access the search with or without using the search icon on the taskbar. Because of this, many users remove the search icon from the taskbar by right-clicking on the search icon on the taskbar and then clicking the Hide from taskbar option.
However, after removing the search icon from the taskbar, for some reason, you might want to restore the search icon. Once again, adding the search icon back to the taskbar as right-clicking on the taskbar no longer shows the option to add the search icon back to the taskbar.
If you wish to add the search icon back to the Windows 11 taskbar again, you need to open the Settings app.
Add search icon to Windows 11 taskbar
Step 1: Open the Settings app. On the left side, click Personalization. Now, on the right-side, click Taskbar to access the taskbar settings page.
Step 2: Here, on the Taskbar items section, click on the toggle button next to the Search to immediately add the search icon to the taskbar.
Remove search icon from Windows 11 taskbar
Step 1: Navigate to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar page.
Step 2: In the Taskbar items section, turn off the Search option.
Another way to remove the search icon from Windows 11 taskbar
Step 1: Perform a right-click on the search icon present on the taskbar and click the Hide from taskbar option. That’s it!
